Can I tell you something? Something I am really proud of? No it’s not a work achievement..or my children ( although clearly I am proud of them too..most of the time ) I am proud because I finally FINALLY learned to enjoy coffee.
I am completely aware of how ridiculous this sounds. But I have wanted to love coffee for such a long time. I tried so many times to train my brain and taste buds to enjoy it and I just couldn’t. And I have done it and oops I am a coffee addict. Already.
The first time I remember really wanting to like coffee was on a trip to Italy in 2008. Everyone drank coffee, looking effortlessly cool with their tiny cups of espresso. Wafts of the most delicious aromas were everywhere..and I was drinking hot chocolate because we all know that tea anywhere other than the UK just isn’t right. It was the best hot chocolate I have had in my life but still I wanted it to be coffee. I tried it and couldn’t get past the first gulp. In the 8 years since I have tried again and again, I could just about stomach an iced coffee but really they are more like a dessert aren’t they?
In July I asked a local artisan coffee company to make me an introduction to coffee coffee. I sound so weird. They made me a flat white with a half shot and I added a liberal amount of demerara sugar and I kind of liked it. Just. The next 5 days I made myself drink it every day, I wasn’t in love with it but I could drink it.
Fast forward two months and I have become one of those people. You know the ones. I cannot function in the morning without it, I talk about it. I try different variations.. I share photos of it online ..in a word I am obsessed.
My favourite Mocha so far, at Harrods:
I am also a little bit of a coffee snob. I can’t drink instant. I make my own at home using freshly ground beans or use pods for my machine.
A homemade cappuccino:
It just goes to show that you can make yourself like most foods. Five years ago I wouldn’t have eaten 80% dark chocolate or enjoyed olives and chillies. Yet now I really love them. Maybe your taste buds mature or you can just become more experimental.
I must admit I do still a good cup of tea but it is possible that coffee is edging forward as my favourite.
Also are you aware that there are health benefits of drinking coffee? This makes me feel better about it.
According to Mens Health people who drink 3- 5 cups of coffee a day have a 65% less chance of developing Alzheimers or Dementia – if you have seen anyone suffer from this it is incredibly painful. That alone is reason enough for me.
Yet there is more. Drink 1-2 cups of coffee and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 38%.
It can also help with pain reduction, weight loss and reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes.
- All information take from Mens Health based on studies carried out.
Are you a coffee lover? Have you made yourself like something that you previously hated? Maybe sprouts.. or seafood?
Tell me. And I want all of your coffee recommendations. Look out for Kahlua cocktail coming up soon.
I am one of those people too :-). I have tried to give up coffee time and time again. On a few occasions I even got past lunch time. And then someone would walk past me with a coffee cup and all my good intentions would go through the window. And your Harrods mocha photo makes me really really want to try it :-).